Former Barcelona coach, Tito Vilanova, passed away today in a Catalan clinic. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and has been battling the disease ever since.
Vilanova came up through Barcelona ranks and played for various teams before he hung up his boots and began work at the Barca academy as a coach responsible for training the U-14 team, which at the time, included Messi, Fabregas and Pique. He managed a few catalan pubs prior to joining Guardiola’s coaching staff.
“The Club wishes to express its most heartfelt sympathy to his family, who are being joined in these moments of mourning by FC Barcelona members and fans all around the world, as well as the rest of the footballing and sporting world,” Barça said in a statement confirming the sad news, continuing: “The Vilanova family has asked for respect for their desire for the strictest intimacy in the moments after his death.”
